Using a Team-Based, Comprehensive Financial Planning Approach to Secure Your Retirement Future
Keen on Retirement
I couldn't be prouder to have my name above the door at Keen Wealth Advisors. If you've read my book, you know that I have a very personal connection to financial planning, and it's been my lifelong mission to help folks avoid the kinds of hardships that my father and I went through. Every day, Keen Wealth carries out that mission in so many different ways: educational events, informative blog posts and podcasts, and a comprehensive planning process that has secured retirement for hundreds of hardworking families over the years. But Keen Wealth is so much bigger than Bill Keen! The folks...
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Retirement on the Horizon? Here's What You Need to Know About the Economy in 2024
Keen on Retirement
Interest rates, inflation forecasts, and long-term market trends were just a few of the topics Matt Wilson, CFP® covered in our recent 2024 Q2 Market Update Webinar, "Gain Insights on the Economy & Markets." The follow-up questions we tackle on today’s show are largely geared toward folks who are approaching the retirement transition with some understandable anxiety. I hope that as we provide a little more detail on these important topics and the overall state of the economy, folks will feel more confident in their financial plans and more excited about retirement.
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Weighing the Pros and Cons of Medicare Advantage Plans
Keen on Retirement
Are Joe Namath and William Shatner giving you the best possible advice about Medicare? During the Medicare Open Enrollment period last fall, you probably saw TV ads for companies selling Medicare Advantage Plans featuring these and other senior celebrities. That's because, under most circumstances, the Open Enrollment period is the one time per year that seniors can change their Medicare coverage. And, in recent years, Medicare Advantage Plans have become a popular way for seniors to cover more of their health care needs. However, rising costs are causing many insurance companies to change,...
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How to Feel Confident Living Off Your Assets Rather Than a Monthly Paycheck in Retirement
Keen on Retirement
Most soon-to-be retirees have a broad understanding of the differences between living off their assets and living off a monthly paycheck. But making that switch and adjusting to new spending habits can be more complicated than you might think, especially if you aren't prepared for the rules around withdrawing from your retirement accounts and how your relationship to your money might change. In his most recent webinar, Matt Wilson, CFP® Chief Investment Officer and President at Keen Wealth explained the importance of making a plan for your retirement spending before you actually retire....
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Stephany Bening Shares Her Remarkable Story of Faith and Forgiveness
Keen on Retirement
The power of the human spirit. Resilience. Forgiveness. Advocacy. Redemption. Character. Faith. These are just some of the words that came to mind when I reflected on our guest today, Stephany Bening, and the incredible story that she shares on this episode. Stephany and her children suffered a wrenching loss. But, guided by her faith, Stephany was able to turn that experience into a force for good that, hopefully, will make Missouri a lot safer and a little kinder for years to come.
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How to Avoid Getting Caught Up in Financial Fraud
Keen on Retirement
If you go back and skim the 200-plus episodes we've recorded of Keen on Retirement, you'll notice that every year or so, we devote an episode to the latest financial frauds and scams that are making the rounds. Especially as we head into tax season, it's important that folks remember the IRS, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and the Social Security Administration are never, ever going to call you and ask for your banking info. We also regularly caution folks against clicking on suspicious emails or text message links, or making investments that seem too good to be true with the...
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Love and Community Helped My Mother Thrive in Her Golden Years
Keen on Retirement
Just after midnight on New Year's Day of 2012, I was standing in a pizzeria in New York with my wife Carissa. We had just watched “The Ball” drop in Times Square. Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York" was playing over loudspeakers. Confetti was in the air. Spirits were high. And I was filled with gratitude and hope for the year ahead. Then I happened to see an email from my mother come in on my phone. What it said confused and worried me. I showed the email to Carissa, and she confirmed my reaction: "It is clear your mother is telling you goodbye." On today's show, I discuss how this...
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Will Hitting “Peak 65” Rewrite the Rules for Retirement?
Keen on Retirement
We spend a lot of time on Keen on Retirement discussing how retirement is changing, from new laws and rules to generational shifts in how seniors work and live. But one constant in the retirement planning process is the importance of the age of 65. Many folks still feel like turning 65 means you've hit "retirement age," even though the government's definition is a bit different. And even if you continue to work well into your 70s, at age 65 there are some important decisions that should be coordinated as your vision for your Golden Years comes into focus. On today's show, we discuss why...
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Retirement Planning Strategies for Managing Interest Rates, Investment Yields, and 529 Accounts
Keen on Retirement
My team at Keen on Retirement has been hard at work analyzing the question that's top-of-mind for many of our listeners. And after crunching the numbers ... Yes, it looks like Taylor Swift will be able to attend the Super Bowl! She's scheduled to perform in Tokyo the night before our Chiefs take on the 49ers, but thanks to a 17-hour time difference -- and, presumably, a private jet -- we do expect to see Taylor in Las Vegas. All kidding aside, I'm especially excited for this round of listener questions. A couple of folks who have been with Keen Wealth for many years took the time...
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Keen on Retirement at 200: Reflecting on Our Favorite Episodes
Keen on Retirement
At the end of 2023, the Keen on Retirement podcast crossed a significant milestone: 200 episodes. To put that number in context, less than half of the 460,080 active shows on Apple Podcasts reach episode 4. It's a real testament to the quality of our discussions, Keen Wealth Advisors' commitment to financial education, the dedication of my cohosts, and the support of our subscribers that Keen on Retirement is still going strong as we begin our 9th year. On today's show, my cohosts and I look back on our favorite episodes of Keen on Retirement and reflect on some of the common themes that...
info_outlineI know I say this every time we answer listener questions, but these are some of my favorite episodes of Keen on Retirement. I love hearing from listeners trying to think through crucial financial planning issues and be proactive about their lives. And I'm thrilled that so many folks in our audience took the time to attend our most recent webinar on Retirement Spending, reflect on the info that Keen Wealth's Matt Wilson presented, and send in thoughtful follow-up questions on a wide range of essential topics.
Let's dig in!